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
“I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip [Melanchthon] and my Amsdorf [Nicholaus von], the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing. The Word did it all.” *
~ Timothy George
The above quote is from the a great reformer in the 16th century, none other than Martin Luther. Luther had a high view of Scripture that he even acknowledged the reformation was not primarily about or because of him, but the Word. The effect of reformation wasn’t only felt in Wittenberg of which Luther was based, but it swept northern and central Europe in the 16th century (though admittedly in some parts of Europe, the reformation was more political than theological).
God’s Word is sharper than a double-edged sword
Luther’s confidence in God’s Word does not come by Luther’s imagination or blind faith in the Scripture, but rather comes objectively from what the Scripture testifies about itself. God, through Isaiah’s vision, tells us that His word will not return to Him empty, and it will achieve its intended purpose (Isa. 55:10-11). The Word does everything. The writer of Hebrews informs us that the word of God is sharper than two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit (Heb. 4:12). The Word does everything.
Paul’s exhortation to young pastor, Timothy, is for him to continue to hold fast to the teaching of Scripture for it is able to make him wise for salvation, and is also profitable for teaching, reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:14-16). God’s word does everything. In biblical time, from old to the new testament, God had always used His words to achieve His purpose, for His glory. And that is still the same today. God, through His Spirit, by His Word, is still drawing people to Himself, sanctifying and transforming them from glory to glory.
What does it mean for us?
What does that, then, mean for us today? If God’s Word is powerful, active, effective, and is able to achieve its intended purpose, then there’s nothing we can do to to either make it more or less effective. Practically, that also means we don’t have to resort to fancy methodologies to attract people to church. That means we don’t have to resort to emotional manipulation and fancy gimmicks to get people to respond to the gospel call of repentance and faith. That means we don’t have to spend millions on lighting, lasers, LED screen and smoke machine to create “worshipful atmosphere”. That means we don’t have to rely on our own eloquence and persuasiveness, important as they may be for preachers.
If God’s Word does everything, then that means we have to be faithful and diligent to present, teach and preach it to others. Our call is to be faithful to God’s Word, and the result is God’s. God, through His Spirit and by his Word, will convict our audience. The Word does everything.
Footnote:
* Timothy George, Theology of the Reformers, Revised Edition, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishing Group, 2013), 53.
